Good Fire: How Prescribed Burns Keep Our Parks Healthy

When you hear the word fire, you might think of danger, destruction, or smoky skies. But in our parks, some fires are actually planned, carefully managed, and incredibly beneficial. They’re called prescribed fires, and they’re one of nature’s oldest—and smartest—tools. Prescribed fire gets its name because each burn follows a specific “prescription,” written in advance to ensure the fire benefits the land and stays under control. Each region and park requires different timing, intensity, and techniques to ensure the fire benefits the land without causing harm.

 

Think of prescribed fire as a spring cleaning for the forest or nature’s reset button!

 

For thousands of years, fire has shaped the landscapes we love. Many of the plants and ecosystems found in our state parks evolved with fire, not in spite of it. When we safely reintroduce fire under the right conditions, amazing things happen:

• Native grasses and wildflowers thrive
• Invasive plants are held in check
• Wildlife habitat improves
• Forests become healthier and more resilient

 

Some plants even need fire to grow—certain seeds won’t sprout unless they’ve felt the heat!

 

Unlike wildfires, prescribed fires are planned months in advance and only take place when conditions are just right. Park staff and trained fire professionals consider weather, wind, humidity, fuel levels, and smoke movement before a single match is lit.

 

During a prescribed burn, crews are on site the entire time, monitoring the fire’s behavior and making sure it stays exactly where it’s supposed to. It’s a slow, low-intensity fire—not a roaring blaze—and it’s over long before you’d expect.

 

Prescribed fire helps create the kind of open, diverse habitat that many animals need. It clears out thick undergrowth, allowing sunlight to reach the forest floor and encouraging fresh new growth—perfect for nesting, feeding, and shelter.

 

Animals are great at avoiding fire, too. Most move away well ahead of the flames, and the improved habitat that follows benefits them long after the smoke clears.

 

One of the biggest benefits of prescribed fire? Reducing the risk of severe wildfires. By safely burning away excess leaves, pine needles, and fallen branches, we reduce the fuel that can feed dangerous, fast-moving fires during hot, dry weather.

 

In short: a little fire now helps prevent a lot of fire later.

 

If you are traveling to parks this Spring, you might occasionally smell smoke or see hazy skies near a park during burn season. While it can be inconvenient, that temporary smoke is part of a long-term investment in healthier forests, safer communities, and stronger ecosystems.

 

We always work to minimize impacts, notify our neighbors, and choose conditions that help smoke disperse quickly.

 

Prescribed fire may look dramatic, but its purpose is simple: to care for the land. It’s one of the many behind-the-scenes ways park staff work year-round to keep your parks healthy, beautiful, and resilient for generations to come.

 

So the next time you see signs of a prescribed burn, you’ll know—this is good fire, doing good work.

 

JER

 

 

March 2026